Transcription of the letter from August to the Lefmann family on 30/31 August 1916:

“30.8.16.

My dear ones!

Today I have been a soldier for one year, so I have completed my one-year term, and in that time have gone through quite a lot as an old soldier. With my hearing on the right side it has not gotten worse. Our company today is moving into rest quarters for 6 days. The doctor was not in the medical station this morning, and since I had only 36.7° body temperature, I could also already move with them into the rest quarters and report there again for medical duty. The company will only be relieved at 11 o’clock at night. But I already set out around 4 o’clock in the afternoon with 4 other medical cases. Beforehand, however, I had to fetch all my things from the trench. So I went from the medical hut through the communication trenches to our dugout. It looked desolate there. None of my things were to be seen, the whole dugout was empty. My group had taken the neighboring dugout. I went in there, and the sergeant told me that of my things only coat, groundsheet, gas mask and bread bag were left, everything else was damaged or completely destroyed, even the rifle, as a result of the mine blast. These things had been hanging not far from the entrance on the sides of the steps. So I took the things that were still left with me to the medical hut and from there we set off. It stormed and rained heavily and after a 2 ½ hour march we arrived at our rest quarters quite drenched. We sleep in a large barracks. The quarters and beds are very good. It is now half past 10 and I will go to bed. The others from the company will probably arrive around half past 1. Tomorrow I will write further.

31.8.16.

Today we had much work to do repairing things. That was a tremendous job. You can imagine how we looked. Our rest quarters are called Esterville near Lens. We now have again 6 days of rest. In our position our company had 2 dead and 7 wounded within 6 days. That is certainly not much and nothing compared with the fighting on the Somme. What do you think of the new declarations of war? Cursed affair. Should the war not soon come to an end thereby, or will it be prolonged still more? Now almost all of Europe is at each other’s throats. All are stricken with madness.

Today I also received a letter from Paul. The “Deutschland festivities” I would gladly have taken part in. Ah, how well off you are at home compared to us!

It is truly already half past 9 in the evening, and at 10 o’clock I must be in my bunk.

Fare you all very well. A thousand greetings to you all,

Your August.”